PressClub Canada · Article.

Gloves off for round two: After a strong start for the new DTM, the season continues for BMW Motorsport at the Lausitzring.

Mon May 15 15:40:29 CEST 2017 Press Release

After the long winter break, the DTM has two rounds in May. Just 14 days after the season opener in Hockenheim (GER), the six BMW drivers will contest rounds three and four of the year at the Lausitzring (GER). The fans can look forward to a packed racing programme at the “Motorsport Festival”. In addition to the DTM, the ADAC GT Masters will also compete on the 3.478-kilometre track.

Automotive

·

BMW Motorsport

·

DTM

Press Contact.

Downloads.

Munich. After the long winter break, the DTM has two rounds in
May. Just 14 days after the season opener in Hockenheim (GER), the
six BMW drivers will contest rounds three and four of the year at
the Lausitzring (GER). The fans can look forward to a packed racing
programme at the “Motorsport Festival”. In addition to the DTM, the
ADAC GT Masters will also compete on the 3.478-kilometre track.

The situation:With 25 points for second place
in the first race, pole position for race two, and eighth place in the
race on Sunday, Timo Glock (GER) of BMW Team RMG (RMR) was the most
successful BMW driver at the season opener in Hockenheim. DTM champion
Marco Wittmann (GER) also picked up points for RMG in both races and
was rewarded for his strong chase from 17th to
3rd place with a spot on the podium. Bruno Spengler (CAN)
in ninth place in the second race scored the first two points of the
season for BMW Team RBM.

The expectations:

BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt: “The DTM
delivered everything that we pledged it would at the season opener in
Hockenheim. It was not only the races that were real thrillers, but
the qualifying sessions too. We wanted to give the fans even more
action – and we succeeded. It also showed that the focus really is on
the drivers this year. In particular, this was demonstrated by Timo
Glock and Marco Wittmann, who finished on the podium after starting
from 17th on the grid. Overall the first round of the 2017
DTM was a great success and has whet the appetite for the races at the
Lausitzring. I’m really looking forward to the Motorsport Festival and
the ADAC GT Masters. BMW Team Schnitzer with Philipp Eng and our BMW
Motorsport Junior Ricky Collard got off to a good start to the season
in that series with the win at the opening weekend in Oschersleben. No
doubt the reunion with Charly Lamm and his team will be another
highlight for the DTM fans.”

Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal, BMW Team RMG): “We
gained a lot of new experience at the season opener in Hockenheim, and
experienced how the many changes for the 2017 DTM season actually
affect our operations. This involved a lot of work for our team, but
we were rewarded with the first good results of the year. We want to
build on this at the Lausitzring. Now we are definitely more aware of
what we can expect as a team and will focus on preparing for that.”

Marco Wittmann (#11, Red Bull BMW M4 DTM – 58 races, 8 wins,
16 podiums, 8 pole positions, 539 points, 2 Drivers’ titles):
“Things have usually gone well for me at the Lausitzring in
the past, that was where I brought home my title in 2014. And I did
very well there in 2016 with fourth and sixth place, even though the
track has never really suited us. I am extremely confident and think
that with the new car and the new rules there is uncertainty on every
racetrack this year. It goes without saying that the aim is to get a
good result.”

Augusto Farfus (#15, Shell BMW M4 DTM – 68 races, 4 wins, 12
podiums, 5 pole positions, 345 points): “It can only get
better than in Hockenheim, so we have to be positive. It wasn’t our
weekend at the Hockenheimring. The Lausitzring gives us the
opportunity to restart the season.”

Timo Glock (#16, DEUTSCHE POST BMW M4 DTM – 58 races, 3 wins,
6 podiums, 2 pole positions, 238 points): “Like at the
premiere last year, we will once again be at the Lausitzring with the
ADAC GT Masters this season. It will be an incredible spectacle for
the fans. I have very positive memories of the Lausitzring, even
though BMW hasn’t always done so well there. I am excited to see how
we are positioned this year and I’m looking to a full stand and a full paddock.”

Bart Mampaey (Team Principal, BMW Team RBM): “We had
a steep learning curve over the course of the Hockenheim weekend – and
of course we want to transfer this into some good results at the
Lausitzring. Our drivers were definitely competitive, but they
suffered a dose of bad luck during incidents in the races. I hope that
this weekend will be better and that we will be able to bring home
some good points.”

Bruno Spengler (#7, BMW Bank BMW M4 DTM – 141 races, 14 wins,
45 podiums, 17 pole positions, 760 points, 1 Drivers’ title):
“I have very, very good memories of the Lausitzring. I have
had a few podium positions and wins there, not forgetting the first
victory after BMW made its DTM comeback. It was also win number 50 for
BMW in 2012, which is why the Lausitzring is special to me. I like the
track and really enjoy driving there. The spectators there are very
passionate about motorsport. I am highly motivated.”

Tom Blomqvist (#31, BMW Driving Experience M4 DTM – 38 races,
1 win, 5 podiums, 1 pole position, 172 points): “I had
tough races at the Lausitzring in 2016, so hopefully things will be
better this year. Last year the Motorsport Festival was quite a good
event with the shared weekend with the ADAC GT Masters, so hopefully a
lot of fans will return. They can definitely look forward to their visit.”

Maxime Martin (#36, SAMSUNG BMW M4 DTM – 48 races, 2 wins, 6
podiums, 2 pole positions, 231 points): “After the bad luck
in Hockenheim, I’m putting my hopes on a successful weekend at the
Lausitzring. I’ve always done well there in the past which is why I
think we might have a good chance. No doubt we will experience another
two thrilling races. We’re aiming for points.”

The history:

The DTM has contested 19 races at the Lausitzring since 2001. The
track is 3.478 kilometres in length and was opened on 20th
August 2000. At their very first appearance on their DTM comeback, BMW
celebrated its most successful weekend in Lusatia to date: First
Spengler secured pole position ahead of Farfus, then Spengler clinched
BMW’s 50th DTM victory in the race. Farfus was also on the
podium in third place.

BMW Motorsport will offer an innovative Chatbot service for
journalists for the first time in the 2017 DTM season. This allows
users to receive the latest information directly to their smartphone
via WhatsApp Messenger. The information available includes driver
statistics, statements and photos. You can register for the BMW
Motorsport Chatbot at the following link: